As I began reading my first section, I was introduced to the realism of poverty. As the McCourt family migrates from New York to Ireland (due to poor prospects in America) their lives are drastically changed. As they go from indoor plumbing in their apartment in Brooklyn to lavatories in Limerick which carry every type of disease, the family’s unhealthiness is furthered. I can not imagine living in such conditions where flushing toilets do not exist for which to use the restroom in.
I can recall times when I would whine and complain about the misfortunes of my childhood but nothing compares to that of Frank McCourt. I was astonished at the way Angela’s mom treated her family as they arrived in Limerick. After a traumatizing month back in Brooklyn with the baby dying and the father’s unemployment, they were met with another disappointment. I was unaware that Angela’s mother could have such hatred for a man solely because he was from the north.
The humor that Frank uses throughout the novel takes away from the depressing mood that the story sets. As I have been reading, I have found it interesting that the grammar and spelling indicate that the child is writing, not the adult. This aids in adding more emotions and enjoyment to the book. Sometimes I have to re-read a sentence to make sense of words, or what exactly is happening. It will take some getting used to!